Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1887-03-02

Various rumors were afloat las
week in regard to certain transaction!
Of w. j. Miller, resident of thi.
city, in which the Minor Lumber Co
was interested, and the following
from the Detroit Free Press of the
9th, will give the reader an account
of what had occurred:
On Tuesday last, as reporter of the
Free Press was making a midnight
round of the hotels, he saw a group
of gentlemen in earnest consultation
at the Brunswick. The group con-
sisted of George l.. Maltz, Treasurer
of the State of Michigan and Secreta-
ry and Treasurer of the Minor Lum-
Der Company, of Alpena, Herman
Ralph, Lewis Avery and fourth per-
son, who afterward proved to be W..
j. Miller, Superintendent of the Min
or Lumber Company's yards. The
conversation was an excited one, and
all the Others were accusing or up
braiding Miller.
At last the conference was ended by
Mr.. Ralph going to the telephone and
summoDing Detective p. ONeil from
the Griswold House. The detective
arrived in few moments and almost
Immediately slipped away with Miller.
AT this the reporter approached the
gentlemen who remained, told them
what he had overheard and asked an
explanation. All were strenuous in
urging that nothing be published and
used every argument to induce him to
promise silence on the subject.
When informed that he had no au-
thority to suppress news they COM
municated with the Free Press Office
and SO strongly represented the injury
that publicity would do, as to secure
a promise of silence for the time be-
ing, for which the following from AL
pena removes any motive:
ALPENA, February 26.-W. j. Miller,
who has for some time had charge Of the
yards of Minor & Co., lumber dealers at
this place, left here about two weeks ago, as
il was supposed TO make visit to Detroit
to purchase vessel for the firm. Early
this week several drafts on Minor & Co.
came through the local banks, drawn by
Miller, Endorsed by prominent Detroit men,
and cashed by Detroit banks. The aggregate
of this paper is said TO reach $4,000
George l.. Maltz, treasurer of the company,
at once went to Detroit and it is said that
Miller, who had no financial authority in
connection with the compan Y, is to be call
ed TO account. Miller was formerly in the
lumber business at Muskegon and in good
circumstances.
Even before the hint received at
the Brunswick, it had been noticed
that Detective Tuttle and Capt. Myler
were fitting mysteriously about the
banks and hotels on Griswold street
and the leading gambling rooms of
the city, evidently OH a lay. After
that occurrence, they were frequently
seen to enter the Griswold House and
go up stairs. The reporter named
came to the conclusion that they had
been shadowing Miller in connection
with Detective O'Niell, and proceed
ing to investigate discovered that
Miller was in one Of the rooms of the
Griswold House under surveillance.
He remained there from Tuesday un-
til Friday, at least, but was Yesterday
seen on the street. 1t looks like a
settlement. Detectives futile and
Myler are dumb as oysters and De-
tective O'Neill is short and pungent in
his refusal to give up" fAything re-
garding it.
Since then it is reported that the
matter has been settled, by Mr.. Mil.
Ter returning some $4,000 or $4,000
in cash and conveying his fine resi-